What To Expect On Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live

This is it. The final WWE weekly broadcast before this Sunday’s SummerSlam PPV, the second biggest show of the year. What does the SmackDown Live blue brand have planned to excite the base heading into a huge weekend in Brooklyn?

We’ve got two announced matches so far, one of which was originally thought to be the main event for SummerSlam. Additionally, we’ll probably get a new twist in the ongoing AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens saga and a certain backstage segment that is always, well, hilarious.

Let’s get on with it. Here’s what you can expect tonight on SmackDown Live.

The SummerSlam Main Event That Wasn’t

John Cena will take on WWE Champion Jinder Mahal in the main event, a bout that was just announced yesterday. This is a non-title match. 

Heading into the Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura number one contender’s contest two weeks ago, there was a prevailing belief that John Cena was headed for a victory. The entire run of Jinder Mahal, that anti-American heel, holding the title belt seemed tailor made for John Cena to eventually come back, battle against, and emerge victorious at a big show like SummerSlam. Instead, WWE pivoted to the “King of Strong Style” and we will have to wait for Cena’s eventual 17th title reign.

So look at tonight’s match as a “what could have been” at SummerSlam. How will John and Jinder mesh in the ring? If Jinder hangs on to the title at SummerSlam, a distinct possibility, we could be getting Cena/Mahal again down the line for the title. 

An Apology From The Phenomenal One?

In their official SmackDown preview, WWE is playing up that AJ Styles will be “apologizing” to Shane McMahon tonight on the show. 

We will probably be treated to a segment similar to what we got last week with Styles, McMahon, and Owens in the ring. Last week, Owens brought up the rough history Styles and McMahon had, showing clips of their brawling backstage on SmackDown weeks ahead of their eventual bout at WrestleMania. Presumably, Styles will be apologizing for their past, which seems odd for a babyface so there’s got to be some kind of twist for this. He will also, I would think, be apologizing for the pele kick from last Thursday.

Owens also brought up Shane ‘O Mac’s checkered past last week when it comes to his roles as guest referee. With a week to think about that, how will McMahon further explain that he will be impartial this time around? And will we see Styles and Owens in competition after two weeks off wrestling on television? 

Natalya Will Take On Becky Lynch

Five days ahead of her championship showdown at SummerSlam with Naomi, Natalya will take on the competitor many thought would be in that title match, Becky Lynch.

I must say that it has been a breath of fresh air to see Natalya thrown into the SmackDown women’s title mix. The division had begun to be a bit stale, predictable, and repetitive. Natalya is arguably the most technically sound female on the roster, so she definitely deserves this spot to shine at the second biggest show of the year. Legitimately happy to see her get this opportunity after so many years of questionable direction for her character (and wasted potential, in my opinion). 

So what will we see tonight? One would hope that Natalya would be portrayed strongly so that we can take her seriously as a contender heading into the big match this Sunday. Then again, Becky Lynch has been left floundering and could use a big win. This could really go either way. 

The Final Edition Of Fashion Peaks

WWE is advertising that this will be the final installment of Fashion Peaks. Sad!

Tyler Breeze and Fandango have been responsible for what have easily been the most entertaining backstage segments produced by WWE in quite some time. However, the search for “Dango” has ended and it’s time to get these two back in the ring. How will they wrap things up tonight?

With last week’s discovery that Arn Anderson was behind the destruction of Tully the Horse (what a great double entendre), not to mention Fandango’s alien abduction story, I’m not quite sure what loose ends are left to tie up. 

The Tamina/Lana Connection?

Lana’s failures to get a victory week in and week out on SmackDown have been well documented. Last week, there was an interaction where Lana confessed to Tamina that she was her inspiration. She said she wanted to be just like Tamina, except more “ravishing.”

After Lana’s embarrassing loss to Charlotte, Tamina at first kind of rubbed it in. Then, she went on to talk about ambition being her driving force. She told Lana that she would help her find her ambition. Will that journey start tonight?

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for the training montages featuring Lana and Tamina. Okay, I’m being a little sarcastic, but there’s some potential for some entertaining television if they do this right. Just sub Tamina for Hulk and Lana for “Mean” Gene and this could be tremendous.